Mount Ephraim Barricade

Camden County Prosecutor Warren W. Faulk and Mount Ephraim Police Chief Brian Beppel reported the arrest of a 43-year-old Woodbury man who broke into a home and injured two.

Adam Kirk was charged Tuesday with two counts of Attempted Homicide, two counts of Aggravated Assault, two counts of Pointing a Firearm, four counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, Burglary, three counts of Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose and Unlawful Possession of a Weapon. He is being held in the Camden County Jail in lieu of $1,015,000 bail.

It is alleged that about 2 a.m. Tuesday Kirk broke into a home on the 300 block of Liberty Avenue in Mount Ephraim armed with a shotgun. In the home was a 36-year-old female resident, her four children – three girls and a boy ranging in age from 17 to 7 – and a 42-year-old male also from Mount Ephraim. The female resident had a long term romantic relationship with Kirk. Their relationship ended three months ago.

Kirk is charged with entering the home’s bedroom and shooting the 42-year-old male in the arm. The male victim and the four children fled the home as the female resident struggled with Kirk. It is alleged the shotgun was fired again but the woman was not struck. She barricaded herself in a bathroom and Kirk pursued, trying to get into the room and slashing at her with a knife. She received superficial cuts during the assault while fending him off and was able to call 9-1-1.

When police arrived Kirk broke off his attack on the woman and barricaded himself into a bedroom. He engaged in a standoff with law enforcement until he surrendered at 5:40 a.m. A Temporary Restraining Order has also been filed against Kirk barring him from having contact with the female.

Both victims are in stable condition at Cooper Hospital in Camden.

All persons charged with criminal offenses are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law.